Leakproof fuel tank projectile



Wbb, 2, 1943.

A. J. DE CAMP PROOF FUEL TANK PROJECTILE l LEAK- Filed Feb. l5, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Flb. 2, W43..

A. J. DE CAMP PROOF FUEL TANK PROJECTILE LEK- ' 2 sheets-sheet 2 FiledFeb. l5. 1941 WITNESS Patented Feb. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES TENT FFICE 6Claims.

The invention aims to provide a novel projectile for renderingleak-proof fuel tanks ineffective and by use of the word projectile, itis to be understood that I comprehend all calibers, even mere bullets.Further, it is to be understood that by leak-proof fuel tank, Icomprehend not only leak-proof motive fuel tanks onv planes, trucks,tanks and other equipment, but also fuel shipping and storagecontainers.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View partly in elevation showingthe projectile associated vwith a cartridge case.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View partly in elevation illustratingthe manner in which, after the projectile forms an opening in aleak-proof fuel tank, a tubular member is left in said opening toprevent the sealing material of the tank from closing the same.

Figure 3 is a detail section showing a modified construction forcarrying the incendiary powder.

Figure 4 is a detail section showing a modified riflng ring.

Figures 5 and 6 are view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but illustrating adifferent form of construction.

Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged detailed sections of portions of Figs. 5and 6.

Figure 9 is a detail section showing a still further construction forcarrying the incendiary powder.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional View showing yet another form ofconstruction.

The preferred form of the invention not only embodies means to preventclosing of any opening formed by the projectile in a leak-proof fueltank, but also means for igniting the fuel leaking from the tank, and aconstruction has been disclosed embodying both of these characteristics.The present disclosure is to be considered illustrative rather thanlimiting, even though the structure shown in the drawings will be ratherspecifically described. The construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 willfirst be described.

A steel-jacketed projectile 3 is provided to be capable of piercingarmor and the like, and said projectile may, therefore, form an openingO through a leak-proof fuel tank T as shown in Fig. 2. With present-dayprojectiles, such an opening formed through a wall of the fuel tankwould be immediately sealed by the highly compressed resilient sealingmaterial M and no leakage of fuel would occur. Due to my invention,however, when the opening O is formed, it is prevented from closing,allowing the fuel to leak out of the tank, and in the preferredconstruction, the leaking fuel is ignited for destructive purposes. y

A central shank l projects rearwardly from the projectile 3 and issnugly surrounded by an open-ended sleeve 5 of any desired metal.` Thefront end of this sleeve carries a rifling ring 5 to engage the usualriiing of a gun barrel, and the rear end of said sleeve is formed withan eX- ternal forwardly facing shoulder l. The diameter of the sleeve atthis shoulder is slightly less than the diameter of the rifling ring 6and may be slightly more than the rear largest diameter of theprojectile 3. When the entire device is in flight, the elements 3, 4, 5,6 and l travel as a one-piece structure. As soon as the projectilestrikes the tank T, however, it forms an opening in said tank. At thesame time, forward movement of the riflng ring 6 is arrested, with theresult that the sleeve 5 slides forwardly through said ring ring to thelimit permitted by the shoulder 1. When this occurs, the forwardmovement of the sleeve 5 is arrested with the result that the projectile3 and its shank 4 forwardly withdraw from said sleeve, leaving thelatter within the opening O and thus preventing the sealing material Mfrom closing said opening. Leakage of fuel may now take place throughthe sleeve as will be obvious from Fig. 2, and as above stated, theleaking fuel is by preference ignited. This is accomplished in thepresent disclosure, in the manner described below.

An inner tube or lining 8 of incendiary powder or the like is providedin the sleeve 5, and appropriate percussion caps S are disposed in frontof the shoulder 'l and in operative relation with said tube 8. Thus,when the parts arrive at the relative positions shown in Fig. 2, thepercussion caps 9 strike the ring 6 and are fired thereby, with theresult that said percussion caps ignite the incendiary tube 8, and thelatter ignites the leaking fuel. If the ring ring 6 should by any chancebreak olf upon impact instead of functioning as above described, thenthe percussion caps 9 will strike the tank and will be red thereby, andthe shoulder 'l will also strike said tank to arrest the forward travelof the sleeve 5.

In Fig. 3, I have illustrated a sleeve Eia surrounding the projectileshank lla and having a shoulder 'la at its rear end, corresponding tothe shoulder 'l vabove described. Instead of having the incendiarypowder within the sleeve 5a, I provide a hollow ring 8b around the rearend of said sleeve and place the incendiary powder 8a within thissleeve. Also instead of having per- -diary powder 8d.

shown at 3g.

cussion caps to nre the powder, I provide ports 1b through the shoulder'In through which flame may pass when the propelling charge for theprojectile is fired, thus igniting the incendiary powder 8a and causingthe device to act as a tracer in addition to eventually firing the fuelshould the tank be struck.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modied rifling ring 6a which is forwardly taperedto crowd into the opening formed in the tank (such as O abovedescribed), whereupon the sleeve (such as 5 or 5a) will follow throughuntil it comes to rest within the opening.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, the projectile body 3b is shown with arelatively soft rear portion 3c which becomes diminished in diameterduring passage through a tank wall, leaving a smaller opening in whichthe shank c of the projectile will shed thc sleeve 5c. The rear portionof this sleeve is bent outwardly, forwardly and then inwardly to providea combined shoulder 1C and hollow ring receiving the incendiary powderfic. Percussion caps 9C are shown for firing the powder and the `rearend of the ring l@ may have weakened porN tions I9 which will blow outand permit the flame to lire the fuel when the powder 8C is ignited, aswill be clear by a comparison of Figs. 5 and fi and Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 9 discloses a construction very similar to that illustrated inFigs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. The rear portion ld of the sleeve 5d is firstbulged outward- -ly to provide a shoulder and is then folded inwardlyproviding a hollow ring for the incen- Firing ports 'le have beenillustrated through the rear edge of this ring to fire the incendiarypowder when the propelling charge for the projectile is red.

In Fig. 10, the projectile body 3e is provided with a soft rear portion3f corresponding to the portion 3 in Figs. 5 and 6, and the rear end ofsaid body extends back around the sleeve Ee as The sleeve 5e surroundsthe projectile shank de and the rear end of said sleeve is provided withan appropriate shoulder ig. It will be observed that no rifling ring isshown. in this view and it may be stated that this-ring may be dispensedwith whenever possible. It is also to be observed that no incendiarymeans is shown in Fig. 10, in which connection, it may be stated thatthis means may be dispensed with also if desired. v

In various views, C merely denotes a cartridge case containing apropelling charge P for the projectile, and said cartridge case may beassociated with other elements in the ways shown or in other appropriateways. Then too, it must be remembered that with larger calibers, nocartridge case wiil of course be provided for the projectile.

In addition to rendering ineffective tanks such as self-sealing fueltanks, the incendiary jacket of the invention will burn steel or othermetal if the following conditions exist: That the jacket lodge in theside or wing of an airplane where the air strikes with extreme force andthe incendiary powder be of suilicient quantity to heat the shoulder 1to a point at which the metal of this shoulder will start burning. Then,the oxygen 4furnished under pressure by the speed of the airplane willcause the metal burning heat to continue and if the metal around thelodged incendiaiy jacket be a mild steel or some other metal that willburn, the burning heat is apt to do considerable damage before becomingimpotent from lack of oxygen or air pressure.

asoassv From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has beenmade for carrying out the objects of the invention. Attention is againinvited to the fact that the present disclosure is illustrative ratherthan limiting, and moreover, to the fact that the invention is notrestricted to any particular caliber, nor to leak-proof tanks on anyparticular kind of equipment, nor to materials.

I claim:

l. A device of the class described comprising a projectile body to forman opening through a tank wall, a central shank rigidly secured to therear end of said body and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a sleeve openat both ends and surrounding said shank, said sleeve having a normallytight separable connection with said shank to permit said shank toforwardly withdraw from said sleeve when the travel of the latter isarrested, the diameter of said sleeve from its iront extremitysubstantially to its rear end being less than the diameter of said bodyto permit said sleeve to enter the opening which said body forms in thetarget, and external stop means on said sleeve for arresting said travelof said sleeve when this sleeve has entered the opening.

2. A device of the class described comprising a projectile body to forman opening through a target, a central shank rigidly secured to the rearend of said body and projecting rearwardly therefrom, and a sleeve openat both of its ends and surrounding said shank, said sleeve having anormally tight separable connection with said shank to permit said shankto forwardly withdraw from said sleeve when the travel of the latter isarrested, the rear end of said sleeve having an external forwardlyfacing shoulder xedly secured thereto, and a riding ring slidablysurrounding the front portion of said sleeve, said riing ring having atight frictional connection with said sleeve to permit said sleeve toslide forwardly through said riiiing ring to the limit allowed by saidxedly secured shoulder vwhen said rifling ring strikes the target.

3. A device of the class described comprising a projectile body to forman opening through a tank wall, a central shank rigidly secured to therear end of said body and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a sleeve openat both ends and surrounding said shank, said sleeve having a normallytight separable connection with said shank to permit said shank toforwardly withdraw from said sleeve when the travel of the latter isarrested, the diameter of said sleeve from its front extremitysubstantially to its rear end being less than the diameter of said bodyto permit said sleeve to enter the opening which said body forms in thetarget, and external stop means on said sleeve for arresting said travelof said sleeve when this sleeve has entered the opening, said externalstop means including a hollow enlargement on the rear end of saidsleeve, incendiary powder within said hollow enlargement, and means forigniting said incendiary powder.

4. A device of the class described comprising a projectile body to forman opening through a tank wall, a central shank rigidly secured to therear end of said body and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a sleeve openat both ends and surrounding said shank, said sleeve having a normallytight separable connection with said shank to permit said shanktoforwardly withdraw from said sleeve when the travel of the latter 'isarrested, the diameter of said sleeve from its front extremitysubstantially to its rear end being less than the diameter of said bodyto permit said sleeve to enter the opening which said body forms in thetarget, and external stop means on said sleeve for arresting said travelof said sleeve when this sleeve has entered the opening, said externalstop means including a hollow enlargement on the rear end of saidsleeve, incendiary powder within said hollow enlargement, and percussionmeans on said sleeve adjacent the front edge of said enlargement forring said incendiary powder, the rear edge of said enlargement havingmeans for permitting name from the burning powder to escape.

5. A structure as specified in claim 2 together with incendiary means`carried by said sleeve to ignite the leaking fuel, and a percussion capcarried by said sleeve to ignite said incendiary means, said cap beingdisposed in front of said shoulder to strike said rifling ring when thesleeve slides forwardly through said ring.

6. A structure as specified in claim 2 together with an incendiary tubewithin said sleeve to ignite the leaking fuel, and a percussion cap carnried by said sleeve to ignite said incendiary tube, said clap beingdisposed in front of said shoulder to strike said rifling ring when thesleeve slides forwardly through said ring.

ALFRED JOSEPH DE CAMP.

